Snuff box

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a snuff box comprising a lid ( 4 ) and a bottom part ( 1   a - c ) rotatable relative to each other, and dividing wall ( 2   a,    2   b ) which divides the interior of the snuff box in two volumes. The dividing wall ( 2   a,    2   b ) is divided into a first dividing wall part ( 2   a ) and a second dividing wall part ( 2   b ), which are moveable relative to each other. The lid comprises a driving element ( 6, 2   b ) arranged to shift one dividing wall part. The driving element ( 6, 2   b ) may further be constituted by the second dividing wall part ( 2   b ) itself. The invention further relates to such a snuff box where the lid ( 4 ) is provided with two lid portions ( 5   a,    5   b ) which give separate access the two volumes that the dividing wall separates the box into. In yet another version the snuff box may further be provided with indicators ( 7 ) acting as a volume indicator. These indicators may partially be constituted by the driving element.

The present invention relates to a snuff box according to theintroductory portions of the independent claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When using snuff, and then in particular portion-packed snuff, there isa need for snuff boxes with a separate volume intended for used snuff.Snuff boxes with a fixed such volume is today available on the market,but the storage space for used snuff disadvantageously consumes part ofthe volume of the whole snuff box. A way of circumventing this is todivide the snuff box in two portions with a moveable separator and oneof the earliest patents relating to such snuff boxes is disclosed byU.S. Pat. No. 2,092,219. The snuff box comprises a lid, a bottom and aseparator constituted by two metal plates attached to each other by ahinge, where the two parts are pressed against each other with a spring.The design comprises a large number of components and is not well suitedfor mass production. The spring action gives a varying torque dependingon how full the box is and may tend to unintentionally compact the snuffat maximum torque and may be unable to shift the metal plate at minimumtorque.

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a snuff box whichmakes production of such snuff boxes simpler.

Another object of the invention is therefore to provide a snuff boxwhich makes it possible to apply an appropriate torque to the dividingwall when changing the volume intended for used snuff.

These and other objects are attained by a snuff box according to thecharacterising portions of the independent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a snuff box comprising a lid (4) and a bottompart (1 a-c) rotatable relative to each other, and dividing wall (2 a, 2b) arranged to divide the interior of the snuff box in two volumes. Thedividing wall (2 a, 2 b) is divided into a first dividing wall part (2a) and a second dividing wall part (2 b), which are moveable relative toeach other. The lid advantageously comprises a driving element (6, 2 b)arranged to shift one dividing wall part. The driving element (6, 2 b)may further be constituted by the second dividing wall part (2 b)itself.

The snuff box has the advantage that it may be constituted by a firstcontinuous piece of material and a second continuous piece of material,as opposed to previous solution that needs more than two elements.

The invention further relates to such a snuff box where the lid (4) isprovided with two lid portions (5 a, 5 b) which advantageously giveseparate access the two volumes that the dividing wall separates the boxinto. In yet another version the snuff box may further be provided withindicators (7) acting as a volume indicator. These indicators mayadvantageously partially be constituted by the driving element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen fromabove

FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen atan oblique angle from above

FIG. 3 shows a lid with a single opening of the first embodiment

FIG. 4 shows a lid with dual openings of the first embodiment

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box seen from the side

FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box seen from above

FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen fromabove

FIG. 8 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seen atan oblique angle from above

FIG. 9 shows a lid with a single opening of the second embodiment

FIG. 10 shows a lid with dual openings of the second embodiment

FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box with indicators

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the snuff box bottom part 1 aseen from above and at an oblique angle from above, respectively. Thebottom part 1 a is essentially cylindrical with a covered bottom and isadapted for receiving a lid. In the bottom part 1 a is a dividing wall 2a, 2 b with two halves arranged, a fixed dividing wall part 2 a and amoveable dividing wall part 2 b. The fixed dividing wall part 2 a is aplane piece of material that extends from the cylinder wall towards thebox centre and is fixedly arranged in this position. From the centreaxis of the box a moveable dividing wall part 2 b extends towards thecylinder wall. The moveable dividing wall part 2 b is attached to themoveable, but in such a way that it can be pivoted relative to that.

On the cylinder wall interior a number of recesses 3 are arranged and aprotruding portion of the moveable dividing wall part 2 b is normallyplaced in one of these recesses. If the moveable dividing wall part ismade to rotate around the centre axis of the box, it tends to move in astep-wise fashion from recess to recess, and unloaded it is locked inone of these recesses.

The dividing wall 2 a, 2 b separates the box in two separate volumes,one intended for used snuff and the other for unused snuff. At purchase,the dividing wall may be arranged such that the volume intended forunused snuff is maximized and filled with snuff. As the snuff isconsumed this volume is emptied and the portion for used snuff may beextended by shifting the position of the dividing wall 2 b.

To separate access to the two volumes in a natural way, the box isprovided with a lid 4 with one 5 a or two lid parts 5 a, 5 b. The lidparts 5 a, 5 b may be opened without the lid in its entirety beingremoved and then access is given to one of the two volumes. In FIGS. 2-4is shown the two versions of lids with one (FIG. 3) or two (FIG. 4)openings of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box where the lid isprovided with a driving mechanism 6 that acts on the moveable dividingwall part 2 b. FIG. 6 shows the first embodiment of the snuff box wherethe lid is provided with an alternative driving mechanism 6 and a volumeindicator 7. The volume indicator 7 is constituted by a somewhatprotruding line which initially runs along both the snuff box bottompart and lid, but as the lid is rotated relative to the bottom part, thedistance between the line on the lid and the line on the bottom partindicates the remaining space of the box.

FIGS. 7-8 shows a second embodiment of the snuff box bottom part seenfrom above and from above at an oblique angle. FIGS. 9-10 show a lid ofthe second embodiment with a single opening and dual openings,respectively. In the second embodiment of the snuff box the two dividingwall parts 2 a, 2 b are arranged such that the dividing wall part 2 a,which is fixedly attached to the bottom part, is not attached to themoveable dividing wall part 2 b, but instead the relative to the bottompart moveable dividing wall part 2 b is fixedly attached to the lid.When the lid is pushed onto the bottom part, the moveable dividing wallpart 2 b, which is fixedly attached to the lid, is positioned such thatit extends from the centre axis of the bottom part towards the cylinderwall in the same way as in the first embodiment described above. Byturning the lid relative to the bottom part, the ratio between the twovolumes is changed. It may also be advantageous for this embodiment thatthe lid has a peg 8 arranged around the centre axis which, when the boxis assembled, extends towards the bottom part and is received there by asteering element around which the peg may rotate.

FIG. 11 shows the second embodiment of the snuff box where the lid andthe bottom part are provided on their exteriors with indicators. Theseare appropriately positioned against each other by production and as thetwo volumes change ratio the indicator on the lid indicates how theratio between the two volumes have changed by turning the lid relativeto the bottom part. In this simplified illustration of the secondembodiment the openings in the lid are not shown and any version of theopenings in the lid may be used.

1. A snuff box comprising a lid (4) and a bottom part (1 a-c) rotatablerelative to each other, a dividing wall (2 a, 2 b) arranged to dividethe interior of the snuff box in two volumes, where said dividing wall(2 a, 2 b) is divided into a first dividing wall part (2 a) and a seconddividing wall part (2 b), which are moveable relative to each other,characterised in that said lid comprises a driving element (6, 2 b)arranged to shift one dividing wall part.
 2. A snuff box according toclaim 1, characterised in that said driving element (6, 2 b) isconstituted by the second dividing wall part (2 b).
 3. A snuff boxaccording to claim 1, characterised in that said snuff box isconstituted by a first continuous piece of material and a secondcontinuous piece of material.
 4. A snuff box according to claim 1,characterised in that said lid (4) is provided with two lid portions (5a, 5 b).
 5. A snuff box according to claim 1 characterised in that saidsnuff box further is provided with indicators (7) acting as a volumeindicator.